In the very center of the ruins, upon the moonlit wasteland, Gu Chengming finally slowly retracted his fist.
That rift from eons ago had completely healed. The two eras had returned to their respective places—the past belonged to the past, and the present belonged to the present. However, one thing remained.
At the spot where the Red Dust Immortal had finally dissipated, in the center of the shattered ground, a lotus flower floated quietly in mid-air.
Its petals were translucent and about the size of a fist, with jagged edges. A faint golden light flowed slowly from the stamens.
Whoa, loot dropped again.
To be honest, he wasn't quite sure what this thing was for.
What if it was some kind of curse, a lingering grudge, or a classic 'final counterattack before death' trope?
In the games from his previous life, the final item dropped by a boss was often a double-edged sword.
But Gu Chengming put it away regardless. What do RPG player tropes have to do with us galgame players?
Moreover, he hadn't been afraid of the Red Dust Immortal when he was alive, let alone now that he was dead—killed by Gu Chengming's own hand, no less.
【Red Dust Phantom Step expressed agreement: Regardless, taking this item will surely provide more means to deal with future situations.】
【Hundred Bones Resonating huffed: A mere Sixth Realm relic? It doesn't deserve to curse Emperor Gu!】
—Alright, the spoils of war are in hand. Now for the main event.
From the moment the karma between the Red Dust Immortal and True Monarch Liuyun Suyu was rewritten into mutual destruction, this secret realm began its first true self-healing process in ten thousand years.
The crimson-gold spiritual runes receded like a tide, and the pitch-black karmic threads snapped inch by inch. Meanwhile, silver-white spiritual runes re-emerged from deep within the earth. Time and karma, which had been distorted for ten thousand years, were gradually returning to their proper order.
The shattered sky, which had been occupied by crimson-gold and iron-gray in turns, finally began its final healing after all the ground patterns returned to their places.
The cracked firmament slowly pieced itself back together, with moon-colored spiritual light flowing through the gaps.
Finally, a brand-new sky formed above Gu Chengming's head.
A moon-white silver moon hung high, casting its clear radiance for ten thousand miles.
This was the original appearance of this secret realm—the Land of Nowhere, a branch residence of the Penglai Immortal Sect.
Standing on the ruins of the high platform, Gu Chengming looked around at the reviving land, feeling quite emotional.
Just then, the silver-white spiritual runes beneath his feet suddenly flickered. The light of the runes spread along the ground, converging into a clear path that extended straight toward a mostly collapsed hall in the distance.
Gu Chengming thought to himself, Is this supposed to be a guide?
He followed the path indicated by the spiritual runes for about fifteen minutes and arrived before the ruins of the hall.
The hall doors were gone, but the words “Penglai Immortal Sect” were faintly discernible on the remains of the door frame. The scene inside the hall was better preserved than the outside.
Although the four walls were mottled, the patterns carved onto them remained intact. Silver-white lines outlined images of flowing clouds and a bright moon.
Clouds surged, and moonlight flowed.
This was the complete manual for the Flowing Cloud Following Moon Sword Art.
In the center of the hall, on a stone platform, lay a jade slip and a broken sword. The spiritual light on the jade slip was very faint, clearly having been sealed for a very long time.
But the moment Gu Chengming stepped into the hall, that faint spiritual light suddenly brightened. Gu Chengming picked up the jade slip and probed it with his divine sense.
A voice rang out in his consciousness.
“Fellow Daoist, it has been a long time—though for you, perhaps only a brief moment has passed.”
“If you can hear these words, it means the Red Dust Immortal's karma has been rewritten... Thanks to you.”
It was the voice of True Monarch Liuyun Suyu.
Gu Chengming's heart stirred slightly.
This information wasn't left “now”; it had been recorded ten thousand years ago.
In other words, after the outcome of that great battle was rewritten, True Monarch Liuyun Suyu did not dissipate immediately. Instead, she used her final moments to leave these things behind through the path of time.
The information in the jade slip continued to flow: “I once glimpsed some images in that light. Though incomplete, they were enough for me to know the origin of the sword art in your hands.”
True Monarch Liuyun Suyu's tone carried a rare hint of emotional fluctuation when mentioning this matter.
“It was my hope that my Flowing Cloud Following Moon Sword Art would be picked up and passed on after me. But in the afterimages of that light, I saw things that should not have appeared.”
“Someone changed my sword art into a code of laws, then someone changed those laws back into a sword art, and then someone mixed in a 'malice' that does not belong to the Dao of the Cloud and Moon.”
“Every change deviated further from the original intent of the Flowing Cloud Following Moon. By the time it reached your hands, it was unrecognizable.”
“If my deduction is not wrong, the personality of anyone who practices this art will gradually be pulled toward extremes.”
Hearing this, Gu Chengming felt quite a strange sensation in his heart.
So the Cloud Moon Sect's original “Flowing Cloud Following Moon Laws” was indeed derived from this “Flowing Cloud Following Moon Sword Art.” It was a legitimate inheritance.
Although the laws differed in form from the sword art, the core intent of the Cloud and Moon had not deviated much.
But later, a certain sword cultivator changed it back into a sword art. This change brought back the form, but some unique understandings accumulated during the law stage were forcibly stripped away.
And that wasn't the final modification.
After that, someone else mixed in what was called “malice.”
—And it didn't seem accidental.
Someone was deliberately distorting this sword art. As for the purpose...
“I cannot know for certain the source of that malice, but I can assert that it was not a natural deviation of Daoist intent, but a deliberate act.”
“I suspect the purpose is related to the final practitioner of that sword art. If one practices a technique with implanted malice for a long time, their state of mind will unknowingly be led in a specific direction.”
If it weren't for True Monarch Liuyun Suyu, probably no one would have noticed the trick hidden within this sword art.
The information in the jade slip reached its final segment: “At the same time, I hope that you, Fellow Daoist, can restore this sword art to its original form and uncover the conspiracy of the mastermind behind its distortion.”
【Flowing Cloud Following Moon: ...】
The spiritual light of the jade slip slowly faded after the final word.
Gu Chengming put the jade slip away and picked up the broken sword from the stone platform.
Half of the blade was missing. The remaining portion shimmered with a faint moonlight hue, and a faded silver-white silk cord was wrapped around the hilt. This was True Monarch Liuyun Suyu's personal sword—or perhaps it was more accurate to call it a relic.
Gu Chengming tucked the broken sword into his robes as well.
As he walked out the ruins' entrance, he looked back at the complete diagram of the Flowing Cloud Following Moon Sword Art on the hall's wall.
Silver-white lines flowed quietly in the moonlight—clouds surging and the moon shining, eternally fresh.
Gu Chengming silently calculated his upcoming schedule.
He had originally planned to visit the Cloud Moon Sect after reaching the Fourth Realm. After all, the waters there were very deep, and as a Third Realm disciple, he might not be able to withdraw safely if he charged in recklessly.
But now, it seemed he had to move the plan forward.
True Monarch Liuyun Suyu's entrustment, the malice within the Flowing Cloud Following Moon Sword Art, and the mastermind hiding in the shadows deliberately distorting the technique.
—Alright, the protagonist of the next dungeon is decided. It's you, Little Liuyun.
【The Flowing Cloud Following Moon Sword Art seemed to sense something and spoke in an unfriendly tone: Don't call me Little Liuyun.】
Gu Chengming acted as if he hadn't heard a thing.
He turned his gaze toward the distant moon-white sky.
The secret realm was self-healing, so the exit should be opening soon. However, before that, a thought suddenly occurred to him.
True Monarch Liuyun Suyu's remaining messages were, in nature, left by her ten thousand years ago.
This meant that after the outcome of that battle was rewritten to “mutual destruction,” she had survived for at least a period of time.
In other words, after that strike of mutual destruction, it was possible that True Monarch Liuyun Suyu had lived.
As for what happened afterward? Ten thousand years was enough for too many things to happen.
But that was another story.
Gu Chengming put away the jade slip and turned to walk toward the secret realm's exit.
Moonlight fell upon his back as the silver-white spiritual runes extended toward the distance beneath his feet.
【Hundred Bones Resonating cheered: Let's go, Emperor Gu! Time for the next stop. This Emperor will surely crush all those lowlifes who dared to tamper with our companion!】
【Flowing Cloud Following Moon Sword Art: ...Who is your companion?】
【Hundred Bones Resonating: Ehehe~】
...
Silver-white spiritual runes spread along the way, clearly illuminating the path beneath Gu Chengming's feet.
As he stepped closer to the edge of the secret realm, the surrounding scenery gradually changed. The distant hills and forests were now recovering their vitality at a visible speed—tender buds sprouted on withered trees, and the sound of water returned to dried-up streams.
At the same time, a familiar clamor of a large group on the move came from the distance.
“Senior Brother Gu!”
“It's right ahead! Quick, quick, quick!”
“Elder Yu said it's in this direction!”
Gu Chengming looked up to see Yu Wenqiu leading the way through the air on her dharma sword, followed by a grand procession of nearly a hundred disciples. Su Qingmeng followed close behind, bringing up the rear.
—The entire Resistance had mobilized.
When Yu Wenqiu landed before Gu Chengming, her peach-blossom eyes were filled with lingering fear and relief. Only after confirming that Gu Chengming was in one piece and hadn't lost any limbs did she let out a long breath.
“It's good that you're okay, Little Gu. What about that white-haired one?” The words “white-haired” were emphasized heavily.
“Gone back,” Gu Chengming answered briefly.
Yu Wenqiu's eyebrows twitched.
What does 'gone back' mean? Back where? Dead? Ran away? Or did you recruit her?
But seeing Gu Chengming's expression, she tactfully refrained from pressing further.
Instead, Gu Chengming looked at the dense crowd of over a hundred people behind her and looked at Yu Wenqiu with some surprise. “Elder, what is this?”
Yu Wenqiu straightened her collar and, for once, puffed out her chest with a slight upturn of her lips, carrying a trace of satisfaction as if it were finally her time to shine.
Nearly a hundred disciples were lined up neatly behind her. Disciples from various sects were mixed together, and though their clothes were different, every one of them was high-spirited and excited.
Someone took the lead and shouted, “Long live the United Resistance! Long live Elder Yu!”
“Long live—!!”
“Long live—!!!”
A hundred people shouted in unison, their voices shaking the wilderness.
Yu Wenqiu basked in this highlight moment, her peripheral vision secretly glancing at Gu Chengming.
—See that, Little Gu? This elder can be quite reliable once in a while.
Gu Chengming found it amusing and naturally saw through his elder's thoughts. He offered a few timely compliments, which immediately sent her over the moon.
...
The dust had settled within the secret realm, but outside, a different scene awaited them.
For the sect leaders and elders waiting outside, this period had been nothing short of an ordeal.
The moment the secret realm's exit opened, the area before the Guanlan Pavilion outside Floating Islet City was packed with people.
The Mohist Grand Elder, Liu Chongji, stood before the water mirror with a look of utter astonishment.
About fifteen minutes ago, the abnormality within the secret realm seemed to have finally been resolved from the inside. The Mohist Sect had also regained control over the realm, allowing the leaders and elders of all major sects to breathe a sigh of relief.
However, the scene that re-emerged exceeded Liu Chongji's expectations.
He had been a Mohist elder for most of his life and was quite familiar with this secret realm.
But he had never seen this sight—silver-white spiritual runes, a moonlit sky, and ancient immortal sect architecture... So what exactly had happened inside?
The Taiyi Sword Sect leader, Zhongli Yuan, also squeezed in and saw the scene in the mirror, a question mark appearing over his head.
In the image, Yu Wenqiu was standing on a high platform.
Nearly a hundred disciples from various sects stood neatly behind her, their presence and momentum fully displayed.
“Long live the United Resistance! Long live Elder Yu!”
“?”
Wait, what's the situation?
The disciples' soul projections had escaped the crisis of assimilation as the Royal Court's spiritual veins completely dissipated. After the silver-white spiritual runes replaced the crimson-gold spiritual veins, the stability of the projections was actually better than before.
The secret realm's exit opened as scheduled fifteen minutes later, and disciples began to withdraw from the exit one after another.
The first to come out were the ordinary disciples from the outer areas of the secret realm, appearing in small groups with various expressions.
Next was the main force of the Resistance. When this group emerged, their neat formation left the sect leaders on the scene stunned.
—They actually came out in organized units.
Tianji Pavilion disciples took the left path, Wanfa Sect disciples took the right, and the Wenjian Sect brought up the rear.
Su Qingmeng was the second to emerge. After coming out, she walked straight to the Wenjian Sect's group and stood there as if nothing had happened.
Then came a long wait.
“Where is Elder Yu?” some disciples looked back and wondered.
“Elder Yu said she would be the last to leave,” another disciple replied. “She said she had to confirm everyone had safely withdrawn before leaving.”
Shen Qianqiu froze slightly upon hearing this.
After waiting for about the time it takes to finish a cup of tea, the secret realm's exit flickered one last time, and a figure walked out from the light.
Yu Wenqiu.
Fourth Realm elder of the Wenjian Sect, leader of the United Resistance, the one who overthrew the Royal Court, the savior of the disciples from various sects, and the one who doesn't succumb to pressure!
When she emerged, her clothes were torn in several places, her hair bun was half-undone, and there was a shallow scratch on her face from a falling stone, but her back was perfectly straight.
The light at the exit slowly converged and extinguished behind her, and the passage to the secret realm closed completely.
The last person had safely withdrawn.
—The self-awareness of the Resistance leader.
She looked around and breathed a sigh of relief after confirming all disciples were present.
Then she turned around and saw Shen Qianqiu, Zhongli Yuan, Liu Chongji, and a group of other Fifth Realm cultivators gathered before the water mirror, along with the extremely complex expressions on their faces.
Yu Wenqiu was a bit dazed. “...What's wrong?”
Shen Qianqiu looked at her, his mouth opening and closing before he finally managed to squeeze out one sentence: “Wenqiu, what on earth did you do in there?”
Yu Wenqiu belatedly realized that the water mirror had broadcast her actions in the secret realm the entire time.
Including the United Resistance, the disciples' cheers of 'long live,' and her posture on the high platform as if she were 'guiding the world with unrivaled authority.'
Yu Wenqiu immediately waved her hands and gave a silly laugh. “That... that was all the disciples' spontaneous behavior. This elder only contributed a meager amount of effort...”
Shen Qianqiu looked at the nearly hundred disciples from various sects standing in neat formation behind her, then at his own elder who usually only knew how to eat pastries and read storybooks.
Whispers began to rise around them: “Is that Elder Yu?” “She doesn't look very powerful.” “Don't judge by appearances! Elder Yu protected over a hundred of us and led us out with her own strength!”
“Didn't you see the scene where Elder Yu used her Heavenly Eye to transfer the strike from the Calamity-Slaying True Monarch? She's practically the top among elders!”
Listening to this, Yu Wenqiu felt like her tail was about to curl up into the sky, and she puffed out her chest with great pride.
Setting aside Little Elder Yu's rare highlight moment for a moment.
As for what exactly happened between Gu Chengming and that white-haired Heavenly Emperor, the outside world naturally knew nothing.
The water mirror's records within the core area of the Royal Court were completely blank; even observations at the level of the Great Record were ineffective.
In fact, let alone the people outside, even those within the Resistance weren't clear about what had happened.
They only knew that Yu Wenqiu had opened the path with her Heavenly Eye, and Gu Chengming had charged in with that white-haired girl.
Then, after a while, the Royal Court collapsed, the sky changed, and the secret realm returned to its ancient immortal realm appearance.
As for the middle part, no one saw it, but the gossip among disciples never needed evidence.
However, the meme of the “Heavenly Emperor's Favorite Consort” began to circulate within a small circle.
Some said a high-realm cultivator who had been sleeping for a long time had awakened, and the first thing she did was find the reincarnation of her favorite consort. For this, she rebuilt the Royal Court and changed the rules, and Gu Chengming was that reincarnation. Everything had started because of him.
This theory was utter nonsense to the sect leaders and elders; no one believed it, treating it as a story made up for amusement.
But gossip was gossip; business still had to be handled.
All disciples had safely withdrawn, and the secret realm passage was closed, meaning the core segment of this Immortal Sect Grand Competition had reached its end amidst the chaos.
For the Mohist Sect, the priority wasn't what happened in the secret realm, but how to wrap up this grand competition.
The secret realm had been turned upside down, and the original competition process was completely scrapped.
The disciples hadn't experienced a match of skills inside; they had experienced a three-in-one package of wilderness survival, a resistance uprising, and ancient immortal sect ruins exploration. The variety was off the charts.
“Grand Elder, what should we do?” A Mohist deacon elder looked miserable.
Liu Chongji paced in the deliberation hall for about the time it takes to burn half an incense stick before finally making a decision. “Given the unprecedented special circumstances of this grand competition, the conventional rankings are canceled.”
Everyone breathed a sigh of relief.
—Ranking was indeed impossible when all the participants had been busy running for their lives.
But Liu Chongji's tone shifted. “The top prize, the 'Blood-Burning Breakthrough Pearl,' still needs to be awarded. The criteria will be changed to the person who performed most prominently and made the greatest contribution during the crisis.”
Everyone looked at each other. Greatest contribution... how to judge that? By vote? Or by a meeting of the sect leaders?
Before anyone could propose a plan, a Mohist disciple rushed in:
“Grand Elder! After the water mirror recovered, the secret realm's point system also restored itself! The original point records are still there!”
Liu Chongji raised an eyebrow.
The Floating Heaven Profound God Mirror originally had a built-in point system as one of the core evaluation mechanisms for the competition.
Although the secret realm had been heavily damaged while under the Royal Court's control, the point system, as something carved into the fundamental laws of the realm, had actually recovered along with it.
This included events that the outside world couldn't peek at due to the shielding of heaven's secrets.
The point leaderboard was projected into the void of the deliberation hall.
—First Place: Gu Chengming.
Everyone stared at that point total and fell into a collective silence.
It wasn't just a matter of being far ahead; it was so high that people suspected the point system had encountered a bug.
Because the act of destroying the Royal Court had been dutifully converted into points by the system.
An ancient Royal Court covering over ninety percent of the secret realm, dozens of Fourth Realm projections, the crimson-gold spiritual vein network, and the law-level spatial seal—
All were categorized as “crisis events,” and all were converted into points for the “resolver.”
Gu Chengming's points alone were higher than the total of all participating disciples combined—even higher than all the participating elders combined.
And the second place on the leaderboard—Yu Wenqiu.
The United Resistance's actions in the secret realm, such as rescue, protection, and organizing withdrawal, were likewise faithfully recorded by the point system.
Although Yu Wenqiu's points weren't even a fraction of Gu Chengming's, she was still the highest-ranked among all Fourth Realm cultivators.
Now there was nothing to argue about.
The top spot went to the Wenjian Sect, and the Blood-Burning Breakthrough Pearl went to Gu Chengming. It was a solid fact, certified at the level of the water mirror; no one could find fault with it.
Zhongli Yuan looked at the rankings of the Taiyi Sword Sect disciples, all of whom were outside the top twenty, and remembered the fear of being dominated by “Loser Calls Me Dad” in the mirror earlier.
He sighed.
In any case, at least the disciples were still alive.
As for the rankings of this grand competition... whoever wanted the top spot could have it. Hosting the next grand competition would require the first-place winner to spend money and resources, anyway.
He wasn't envious at all. Right, not envious.
...
On the evening after the awards, in the eastern district of Floating Islet City.
Gu Chengming gave a brief report to Shen Qianqiu at the Wenjian Sect's residence.
Regarding what had happened in the secret realm, he was selective in what he said.
He omitted the details of the Royal Court; since heaven's secrets had shielded most of the information, he was happy to save himself the trouble.
But the existence of the Red Dust Immortal, Huichuan, and the truth of the secret realm being distorted for ten thousand years—these major matters involving the safety of the Great Qian cultivation world—he told Shen Qianqiu truthfully.
“A Sixth Realm cultivator... Huichuan...”
Shen Qianqiu's hand holding the teacup trembled slightly. As the leader of the Wenjian Sect, his experience was by no means lacking.
But putting terms like “Dao Throne,” “Huichuan,” and “time reversal” together made even his scalp tingle.
“This is no small matter.” Shen Qianqiu set down his teacup, his brow deeply furrowed. “If we inform the major sects, it will likely cause a massive shock. The wording must be extremely cautious; if handled improperly—”
Before he could finish, a Wenjian Sect disciple walked quickly to the door and reported, “Sect Leader, the Great Qian Imperial Princess, Ji Yixi, requests an audience.”
Shen Qianqiu was stunned, though Gu Chengming wasn't surprised.
Ji Yixi's appearance perfectly solved the problem Shen Qianqiu was worrying about.
As a representative of the Great Qian Imperial Family's hidden lineage, she officially characterized the secret realm incident.
In short, the matter involved ancient Dao Thrones and outer realm karmic interference. The Great Qian Imperial Family and the Night Guard Division would jointly take over the subsequent investigation, and individual sects did not need to report it themselves.
Once the words “Imperial endorsement” came out, the pressure on Shen Qianqiu's shoulders vanished by more than half.
He didn't have to worry about the wording anymore, nor did he have to face the inquiries of other sect leaders.
The Imperial Family had characterized it; who would dare ask more?
After Shen Qianqiu withdrew in relief, Ji Yixi sat down in the guest room.
The fist-sized black dragon, as usual, was perched on her shoulder, its tail drooping lazily, but its vertical pupils still reflexively contracted when it saw Gu Chengming.
Its 'calling someone dad' trauma had not yet fully healed.
“The Red Dust Immortal's karma has been completely extinguished in the current timeline,” Ji Yixi said, getting straight to the point. “Huichuan will not happen again. For this, we have Commander Gu to thank.”
Gu Chengming nodded, assuming this was the result Ji Yixi had seen through the Great Record.
“However, one thing surprised me.” Ji Yixi hesitated for a moment before saying, “The Longevity Sect's attitude toward this matter is quite subtle.”
Gu Chengming was a bit surprised and signaled for her to continue.
“Although the Red Dust Immortal used the Longevity Sect to launch a surprise attack on the Penglai Immortal Sect branch, based on the intelligence I've gathered these past few days, the Longevity Sect doesn't seem to consider the Red Dust Immortal one of their own. It was more of a relationship of mutual exploitation. The Red Dust Immortal needed the Longevity Sect's manpower and resources, while the Longevity Sect needed his expertise in the Dao of karma. Both sides took what they needed, but they never truly allied. Now that the Red Dust Immortal is gone, the Longevity Sect hasn't shown any signs of heavy losses; instead...”
Her tone paused subtly. “Quite a few people are gloating.”
Gu Chengming was thoughtful. From that perspective... the internal situation of the Longevity Sect was even more complex than he had thought.
Shaking his head to clear those thoughts for now, he took out the faint golden lotus from his robes and placed it on the table.
“This thing was left behind after the Red Dust Immortal dissipated.”
Ji Yixi's eyes filled with surprise the moment she saw the lotus, clearly recognizing its origin, and she began to explain.
Although the Dao Throne of the Inverse Cause Lotus had returned, the things the Red Dust Immortal had accumulated over ten thousand years wouldn't just vanish into thin air.
In the past, there had been cases where a Sixth Realm expert's death left behind a “legacy” that could be used directly.
However, this item was too complex and not of much use as it was.
At this point, Ji Yixi shifted the topic: “But if this item is used as a base, it can be forged into a dharma artifact related to the Dao of karma.”
“If Commander Gu trusts me, how about leaving it to me to handle? The Great Qian Imperial Family's master smiths have extensive experience in dealing with ancient relics. Once the forging is complete, I will deliver the finished product to you.”
Gu Chengming thought for a moment and nodded in agreement.
Ji Yixi carefully put away the lotus.
Then, she took a small brocade box from her sleeve and pushed it toward Gu Chengming.
“Additionally, there is one more thing to give to Commander Gu as a thank-you for the secret realm incident.”
Gu Chengming opened the box. Inside lay a jade seal, warm as fat, with a coiled dragon carved on its surface. A very faint golden spiritual light flowed along the dragon's body.
“This item is called a Deputy Seal,” Ji Yixi said as if introducing an extremely ordinary gift. “Holding this, you will be viewed as a member of the Imperial Family by the dragon qi within Great Qian.”
Gu Chengming's hand paused slightly.
“You can freely mobilize dragon qi, equivalent to an Imperial decree.”
“...?”
A question mark appeared over Gu Chengming's head.
Ji Yixi seemed to see his doubt and further explained, “If Fellow Daoist Gu wishes to rebel in the future, you will have a legitimate title.”
“?”
Wait, looking at your expression, it doesn't feel like you're joking.
...
Regardless of whether Ji Yixi was joking or not, Gu Chengming ultimately tucked the small seal away.
He watched the two disappear from the residence's entrance, then returned to his room to organize the items he had gained today.
—The Deputy Seal, the broken sword, the lotus, and the Blood-Burning Breakthrough Pearl that was yet to be delivered.
Most importantly, the room for the Hundred Bones Resonating of Love had been completely cleared.
This trip to the secret realm had yielded rewards far exceeding his expectations.
Over the next two days, Floating Islet City entered the stage of cleanup and recovery.
The remnants of the outer realm sky demons were purged by the Fifth Realm cultivators working together. The city-protecting array was reactivated after maintenance, spiritual lamps were lit one by one, and life began to return to the streets.
The Wangyun Tower was the first to resume business. The shopkeeper took down the wooden sign that had hung for half a month saying 'Temporarily Closed' and replaced it with a brand-new one: 'Celebrating the Successful Conclusion of the Grand Competition, Spirit Wine Buy Three Get One Free Today.'
Successful conclusion... Honestly, that term was used quite subtly, but no one went to correct it. After all, the disciples had returned in one piece, so from a results perspective, it could be considered successful.
As the host, the Mohist Sect held a brief closing ceremony at the end of the cleanup work.
At the ceremony, besides announcing the final rankings of the competition again, Liu Chongji awarded an extra batch of special contribution rewards.
Most were standard items—spirit stones, pills, technique fragments, and the like—which served as a nice bonus for the disciples who had performed well in the secret realm.
But when it was Gu Chengming's turn, Liu Chongji took a badge from his sleeve.
The badge was about two inches square, made of some kind of spiritual gold alloy. The front was engraved with the emblem of Floating Islet City, and the back bore a line of tiny spiritual runes.
“Fellow Daoist Gu, this is the City Star badge of Floating Islet City.”
“The holder of this badge enjoys discounts in the markets, priority in guest courtyards, and usage rights for spiritual springs within Floating Islet City...” He went on and on for a long list.
Gu Chengming took the badge and turned it over a few times.
—City Star.
He thought to himself, why not just call it Honorary Citizen of Floating Islet City? It feels so out of place with a xianxia world-building.
The main street of Floating Islet City became lively again, only this time the flow of people was in the opposite direction. The flying boat docks were packed with crowds waiting in line to depart.
Gu Chengming stood in the courtyard of the Wenjian Sect's residence, watching the bustling scene. Just as he was calculating when to set off for the Cloud Moon Sect—
A hesitant cough came from behind him.
...
Yu Wenqiu stood under the osmanthus tree in the courtyard, about five steps away from Gu Chengming.
She had changed into clean elder robes today, her hair was neatly tied, and she had even unusually pinned a small osmanthus flower by her temple.
She had plucked this flower from the tree in the courtyard this morning—she had plucked three in total and spent half the morning comparing them in front of the mirror before choosing this one.
She had stuffed the other two back onto the tree, though she didn't know if they would survive being put back.
“Little Gu...” Yu Wenqiu spoke, her voice half a tone lower than usual.
Gu Chengming turned around and was slightly stunned to see Yu Wenqiu dressed much more neatly than usual.
Yu Wenqiu rapidly went through her lines in her mind, starting from 'Gu Chengming, I'm not going to be your elder anymore' and ending with 'I want to be your Dao companion.'
She took a deep breath, looked up, and stared directly into Gu Chengming's eyes.
—Now's the time.
“I, I actually... have always...”
—Oh no, I'm stuck.
No, it wasn't that she forgot her lines; her mouth couldn't keep up with her brain.
The lines in her head were all knotted up, replaced by a bunch of fragmented words pushing against each other on the tip of her tongue.
I like you—no, that's too direct. Lay some groundwork first.
You are the most—most what? Best? Most heart-stirring person I've met in my life?
—None of those were right!
Yu Wenqiu's brain was a complete mess, and she finally squeezed out a sentence from the jumble.
“I—I want to be your Dao—Dao companion!” Her voice wasn't loud, but every word was spoken clearly.
After finishing, Yu Wenqiu's face turned red from her ears all the way down to her neck, as red as if it had been dyed by the osmanthus flower at her temple. She kept her head down, not daring to look at Gu Chengming's expression.
It's over. I said it. I can't take it back.
Now it all depends on how Little Gu responds.
If he says, “Elder, I see you as a sister,” Yu Wenqiu felt she might just jump off Floating Islet City.
If he says—
“Aren't we already Dao companions?”
That sentence was not in any of Yu Wenqiu's predictions.
Her mind went blank for a moment, then she slowly raised her head.
Gu Chengming stood before her with a look of confusion, even a hint of 'why are you only bringing this up today?'
Little Yu was completely baffled.
Already Dao companions? Since when...?
—Wait, the capital?!
The capital, the Star-Gazing Tower, that night.
That night when she had mustered her courage to say, “Stay by this elder's side and write storybooks for a lifetime,” and then felt she had messed up and failed to express herself clearly.
—He understood?
Yu Wenqiu's peach-blossom eyes widened.
After returning from the capital, Little Gu's attitude hadn't changed, but it hadn't become more intimate either.
He still brought her pastries, still read storybooks with her, and still went to the training ground to guide the juniors for her when she was feeling lazy.
Everything was as usual.
So 'as usual' that she hadn't realized at all that their relationship had already undergone a qualitative change at some point.
So she had been agonizing for so long, wailing for so long, and even went to the Tianji Pavilion to have her marriage fortune read, only to get that mysterious result.
—Doesn't this make her look like a fool for agonizing for so long!
Yu Wenqiu looked at Gu Chengming resentfully, her eyes full of 'then why haven't you shown anything since we came back from the capital?' She grumbled in her heart that, even if not dual cultivation, there should at least be some kissing or hugging.
But on second thought, since returning from the capital, they had been preparing for the grand competition, so it seemed there really hadn't been an opportunity. She suddenly felt a bit deflated.
Gu Chengming froze slightly.
Thinking carefully, it really was his own fault.
In his view, their relationship had been confirmed in the capital. After returning to the sect, although they were busy preparing for the grand competition, he hadn't lacked in showing concern; he just hadn't made any further moves.
Looking at the little Elder Yu before him, with the osmanthus flower at her temple and her blushing face glaring at him, Gu Chengming suddenly felt that no matter how much was said, it wasn't as direct as taking action.
—In terms of taking action, a galgame expert never loses to anyone.
He took a step forward. Yu Wenqiu reflexively took half a step back, her back pressing against the trunk of the osmanthus tree. A few flowers rustled down, and one happened to land on her shoulder.
Gu Chengming reached out and picked the fallen flower from her shoulder. Then, instead of letting go, his fingers slid along her shoulder toward her cheek.
Yu Wenqiu's breath suddenly stopped.
—Wait, wait wait wait!
No, isn't this development too fast?!
She was just angry! She hadn't finished her lines yet!
But her body was more honest than her brain. Her peach-blossom eyes half-closed reflexively, her eyelashes trembling slightly.
The morning light filtered through the gaps in the tree canopy, casting mottled shadows upon the two of them.
Yu Wenqiu closed her eyes, her mind blank, with countless thoughts popping up.
—I really didn't need to say so much nonsense. If I'd known, I would've just kissed him back in the capital.
Wasting several months agonizing over this... are you stupid, Yu Wenqiu?
But then, another thought covered all the previous ones—
—So kissing is actually such a comfortable thing.
At the same time, a dialogue box popped up.
【Hundred Bones Resonating watched with quite a bit of envy.】
【But then it thought, eh? It seems the room for the Hundred Bones Resonating of Love has also been cleared.】
【Does that mean from now on, I can occasionally... with Emperor Gu...】
Rate on N.U.
